ZIFFTIIFF 2017

This year will have this strategic cinematic collaboration for the first time

The two prominent organisations in the Zimbabwe film industry, the International Images Film Festival for Women (IIFF), which is the flagship event of Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe (WFOZ) and Zimbabwe International Film & Festival Trust are pleased to announce that there will be a joint film festival 2017. IIFF will present its 16th edition in collaboration with the 19th edition of the Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF). The joint festival will take place from 26 August to 2 September 2017.

In presenting this strategic cinematic collaboration the organisations behind IIFF and ZIFF are taking this progressive step to facilitate cohesive and sustained growth in the film sector. The resultant synergy will offer the most diverse festival for audiences as the two festivals combine their strengths to create a platform for excellence and advocacy in film. Through a wider engagement with the various stakeholders this will also add value to the cultural and educational industry.

IIFF programs are held in schools, communities, national and international outreaches. National outreaches take place in Binga, Bulawayo, Gwanda and Chipinge. International outreaches are held in Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, South Africa and Somalia. In 2016 IIFF, for the first time, hosted the African Women Filmmakers Hub, a pan African women filmmakers’ production platform. IIFF has also regularly held training workshops that provide an opportunity for women filmmakers to find their voices and which also train local filmmakers in all aspects of the craft of film making. WFOZ is the women’s department of the Institute of Creative Arts for Progress in Africa (ICAPA) Trust. It has produced and co-produced some of Zimbabwe’s finest films, including 'Kare Kare Zvako - Mother’s Day', which won international prizes and featured at Sundance, as well as 'Peretera Maneta' which won continental prizes.

ZIFF is the flagship programme of the Zimbabwe International Film and Festival Trust. Themed 'Progressive, Forward-thinking, Dynamic, Creative, Relevant, and African'; ZIFF is a premier annual festival that showcases the best in film from Zimbabwe and the world; with a national outreach in other cities in Zimbabwe which include Bulawayo, Mutare, Norton and Chitungwiza. The Festival also incorporates the Trust’s other programmes: the Film Forum (FF), which forms the industry programme; Outreach2Educate (o2e), which screens films and hosts workshops in disadvantaged and grass roots communities; and Short Film Project (SFP), which produces quality short films by mentoring emerging filmmakers to make their first film, thereby kick starting their careers.

Both organisations are excited to be coming together and present an enthralling programme, and to celebrate everything film cinema before a diverse audience as they continue to raise the profile of the film sector industry in Zimbabwe at an international stage. Be prepared as the IIFF and ZIFF will bring the magic of cinema back to Zimbabwe combined with various discussion events and workshops.